Molluacan Pot luck at the Zoology class

We had a potluck lunch at the Zoology class at noon.

Today's lecture's topic was about Molluscs, such as octopuses, squids, and cuttlefishes.

The classmates brought a dish related to Molluscs.

I brought a dish something out of the topic.

I had an interesting day It was something that I could experiece only here (a small and freindly class)!

Banyon Trees

I love laying under the Banyon tree.

The trees give me a cool and big shadow.

If you come to Hilo, laying under them may be a good spot to experience!



They can grow big and widely. Their roots shoot from the branches growing toward ground.

They are interesting trees!

Tsunami Alert on 2/27, 2010

What a day today was!!

We had a Tsunami Alert in Hilo.

The power of 8.8 magnitudes earthquake in Chile was going to threaten us...

The Earth is so dynamic and powerful!

The news and radio stations were our main sources to get updated information.

The warning sounds for Tsunami started from the early morning around 5 (0r 6am).

For lunch, we (the lady and her son) went to the Mexican restaurant at Pahoa that is located within 15-20min drive.

Her son really helped us. Mahalo (thank you).

Almost everything, including seven-eleven stores, was closed in Hilo.

It turned out that Tsunami did not hit Hilo.
We had a peaceful sunset.



Tsunami was going to arrive here at around 11am. People who live down needed to evacuate for safety zones, including me.

Many people were upper ground and watching and waiting for Tsunami to hit Hilo.




We were at the ground of Hilo high school under a huge banyon tree.

It was such a nice and hot day! I felt something strange.

It seemed that nothing would hit Hilo. It was just so peaceful day!

This picture was taken around 9:30am before Tsunami might hit and we evacuated from our apartment.

How peaceful it was! How terrible Chile is now!

In Japan, we have a word to describe such a situation: "Arashi no kurumae no Shizukesa." It means that there is silence before a disaster/trouble (something bad) will happen.)

We are turly little creatures.

By the way,

Humans (Homo sapient) have only a spice even though other creatures have diverse spices..... The population of Homo sapient is way over. How the Earth will shift?

Nature in The Big Island

There were used to be a lot of mamane trees and koa trees (native plants in Hawai'i)....

What happened to this area?

In the history, many immigrants from other countries came here for new jobs, such as working at plantations and cattle.

In this area is located in a part of Mauna Kea (the high mountain).

As you can see the area becomes so dry and brownish...due to the cattle business in the past.

Over 100 years, people made money out of this land.

We need to care for at least 150 years to re-grow the area.

Still, some cows are left behind and telling our ancestors' history.

They eat mamane trees.

There are cow-free zones, and people re-grow mamane trees.

People's impact in Hawai'i is a really big issue, I believe.

I went to Mauna Loa (the world highest mountain if you measure from bottom of the ocean floor).

Mauna Loa is located to near the Kilauea (Volcano national park).

This area were used to be a cattle area as well.

The area once became bare and naked due to the cattle business.

However, many koa trees and mamane trees have been growing back quickly by keeping wild pigs out. The pigs like to eat these baby plants.

This area suffers from alien plants as same as the Mauna Kea area.

Also, I went to Kapoho area for snorkeling. It takes me around 40min. from Hilo to there.

I was shocked and disappointed a change of the area.

There are seawater tide ponds that have beautiful coral reefs and clear seawater with abundant marine creatures.

Even though the seawater tide ponds are surrounded by private houses, the area for snorkeling is open for public.

At my first time visit, one of ponds only I swam was so beautiful. I was like at a heaven welcomed by many marine creatures.

However, at my second visit, this pond becomes lifeless. The water was yellowish and brownish, and the temperature was very warm. A sudden big change made me so sad.

What happened to this pond? I want to find out!

As you know that economy of the Hawai'i islands mainly depends on tourism.

The islands are considered as one of the man's heavens.

Now, many people can easily access to many areas of the Hawai'i islands.

Tourists enjoy making their sweet memories here.

However, we should not forget how much impact we can leave on these Hawai'i aina (lands).

We need to go back to preserve these remote islands as much as possible.

We should not destroy the islands we call "heaven"......